Deputy PM Opens Somalia-China Business Forum, Urges Investment in Infrastructure and Agriculture

MOGADISHU — The Federal Government of Somalia has officially launched the Somalia-China Business Networking Forum in Mogadishu, marking a significant step in deepening economic ties between the two nations as a high-level Chinese business delegation visits the capital .

Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama officially opened the forum, which was organized by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and brought together government officials, Somali business leaders, and over 30 Chinese companies and investors. The forum aims to strengthen trade, investment, and economic cooperation, focusing on infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, energy, transport and logistics .

Ambassador Hodan Osman Abdi, Somalia’s Ambassador to China, described the forum as the first organized Chinese business delegation to visit Somalia in this manner and a milestone in the bilateral relationship. “It is a great honor for me to participate today in Mogadishu in the Somalia-China Business Networking Forum, which brought together government leaders, Somali businesspeople and more than 30 Chinese companies and investors visiting Somalia. This is the first organized Chinese business delegation to come to our country, and it is an important step resulting from sustained efforts to transform the longstanding friendship between Somalia and China into a strong economic foundation—trade, investment and direct cooperation that benefits both peoples.”

Ambassador Hodan emphasized that Somalia’s image cannot be changed by words alone; it is changed by visible reality and lived experience. “We want our Chinese friends to come to Somalia, see the country’s development with their own eyes, meet our businesspeople, learn about the opportunities available, and experience the hospitality that Somalis are known for.” She called for a mutually beneficial economic relationship, where Somalia benefits from Chinese investment, technology and expertise, while Somali products gain access to the vast Chinese market. “China should not be seen only as a place from which we import; it is a large market that Somali fish, agricultural products and other goods can reach.”

Ambassador Hodan has been a key figure in promoting economic diplomacy between Somalia and China, previously expressing strong support for China’s zero-tariff policy on exports from all 53 African countries with diplomatic ties. She has noted that the policy would help bring more Somali products, including fish, camel meat and camel milk, into the Chinese market and create new income and employment opportunities for Somalis.

She has also been actively expanding Somalia’s diplomatic engagement across Asia, opening the Annual China-Africa Legal Cooperation Forum in Beijing in November 2025 and urging deeper legal and institutional collaboration between African nations and China to strengthen mutual trust and sustainable development.

Economic Cooperation and Investment Opportunities

Somalia is set to begin exporting fish and other seafood products to China in September 2026, following the implementation of a tariff-free agreement signed between the two countries in July 2026. Director General of the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, Abdi Dirshe, described the deal as a historic step aimed at boosting the blue economy, creating jobs, and attracting investment in cold storage and supply chain infrastructure.

China extended its zero-tariff policy to all 53 African nations with diplomatic ties on May 1, 2026, eliminating customs duties on 100 percent of tariff items for imported products. Somalia is positioned to substantially benefit from this policy, which establishes new pathways for exporting its abundant resources.

The fisheries agreement was officially signed on July 13, 2026, between Somalia’s Minister of Fisheries and Blue Economy, Ahmed Hassan Adan, and China’s Ambassador to Somalia, Wang Yu. Minister Ahmed Hassan Adan described the agreement as a major victory for Somalia, particularly for fishermen, traders and all stakeholders in the fisheries sector.

The forum comes as Somalia seeks to attract foreign investment after years of political instability and economic challenges. The forum showcased Somalia’s National Transformation Plan (2025-2029) and the New Mogadishu Special Economic Zone project, alongside B2B and B2G meetings between Somali and Chinese companies and government agencies.

Critical Note

The launch of the Somalia-China Business Networking Forum and the arrival of a Chinese business delegation represent a significant step in deepening economic ties between the two countries. The tariff-free trade agreements, particularly in fisheries, offer tangible opportunities for Somali exporters. However, the impact of these initiatives will depend on the Somali government’s ability to create an enabling environment for investment, address governance challenges, and ensure that the benefits of economic growth reach ordinary Somalis.

Somalia’s reliance on China for trade, investment, and humanitarian assistance raises questions about the balance of influence and the need for transparency in bilateral agreements. The Chinese government has consistently supported Somalia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, particularly in opposing any recognition of Somaliland or other separatist claims. This diplomatic support is significant, but Somalia must ensure that its growing relationship with China does not come at the expense of other important partnerships or its own long-term development interests.

As Ambassador Hodan noted, the goal is to transform words into visible reality. The challenge remains to translate diplomatic goodwill into tangible economic benefits for both populations. The Somali government must continue to pursue diversified partnerships and ensure that economic cooperation with China is transparent, accountable, and aligned with the country’s development priorities.